Utica woman admits sex-trafficking of 16-year-old girl

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- A Utica woman admitted today that she helped lure a 16-year-old girl into prostitution in Onondaga, Oneida and Broome counties two years ago.

Lynette Tilden, 26, pleaded guilty in federal court to sex trafficking of a child, admitting that she, her brother, Edward Tilden, and another woman forced the girl to use drugs and to engage in prostitution in February 2012.

Lynette TildenState police mugshot

The Tildens and Alexandria Davall were arrested last year on charges of sex-trafficking of a child, inducing a child to engage in prostitution, and distributing cocaine and heroin to a child.

The girl was wandering the streets of Utica in February 2012 when she was befriended by a Utica cab driver, who passed her off to Davall and the prostitution ring, court papers said.

The ad offered sex with the girl in exchange for money, prosecutors said. Davall and her co-defendants also sent mass text messages offering the girl for prostitution, prosecutors said.

The arrests of the Tildens and Davall were the result of an investigation by the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, New York State Police, Utica Police Department, Oneida County District Attorney's Office and the FBI.

Lynette Tilden is scheduled to be sentenced July 29. She faces at least 10 years in prison and up to life in prison.
Contact John O'Brien at jobrien@syracuse.com or 315-470-2187.